Rainsticks, family meeting lessons offered

TOWN OF RUSSIA — A musical program for children and a lesson on family meetings are offered Saturday at the Shawangunk Nature Preserve, 255 Shawangunk Road off Pardeeville Road, in Herkimer County.

Call 826-7405 to attend. Events are free.

Events with descriptions from preserve officials:

Saturday: 9 ­ 11 a.m. Recycled Rainsticks with Hillary Joy Pitoniak (for children). Rainsticks are ceremonial musical instruments that are traditionally made of cacti, pebbles, and other natural materials. Some cultures believe that the rain-like sound that a rainstick produces can bring on a storm by invoking the rain spirits. In this workshop, you will learn to make recycled (non-traditional) rainsticks by repurposing stuff you probably have lying around the house, and will make your very own rainstick to take home. Free, materials included.

9 ­ 11 a.m. How To Conduct A Family Meeting To live in a democracy children need to learn how to exercise their rights and privileges in a responsible way in negotiable areas. Learn techniques that are used successfully not only by families, but worldwide corporations to improve interpersonal relationships and functional abilities.

Saturday, Aug. 11th — 9 a.m. - Noon Garden and Grounds Tour Of Shawangunk Come see what we’ve built out of recycled lumber including a home for $450 and soil that experts that said nothing would grow in.

While we often think of food as something to merely nourish our bodies and many of us only use herbs as a flavor enhancer, both food and herbs can have a profound effect on our physical and psychological well-being. In this workshop we will take a holistic approach to using food and herbs for health of the mind, body, and spirit.

Saturday, Aug. 25 — Noon ­ 1 p.m. Musical Picnic at the lodge with Harp & Harmony. Bring along a bag lunch and enjoy some acoustic music from Harp & Harmony while you eat and rest in the mosses under the trees at Red Pine Lodge.

On the net: www.shawangunknaturepreserve.com/

The Shawangunk Nature Preserve is a 345-acre forever wild, non-profit, holistic, deep ecology learning and cultural center located between Cold Brook and Grant, off Pardeeville Road.